Mail-bag fastener



Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,449

w. 1.. MURPHY MAIL BAG FASTENER Filed May 16. 1924 Sad/wank;

W1 r/vss sss Patented Dec. 2, 1924. v

Mart-nae FASTENER.

Application filed May 16, 1924. Serial No. 713,835.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Caledonia, in the county of Houston and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fasteners,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mail bag fasteners and has for itsprime object to provide a device of this nature possessed of anextremely simple and efiicient structure, one which is reliable inoperation, inexpensive to manufacture, durable, strong, and well adaptedto the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other ob jects in view as will appear as thedescrip tion progresses, the invention resides in certain novel featuresof construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the fastener embodying the features ofmy inven tion,

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof the major portion being shown insection and substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the fastoner, and

Figure 4 is a plan view thereof a portion of the hinged leaf beingbroken away.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that this fastenerembodies a casing of box like structure formed by the walls indicatedrespectively by numerals 1, 2 and 3 and the ends 4: and 5. The wall 1 isshorter than the wall 3 and terminates a distance from end 4. End 4 isshorter than end 5 and its end is provided with a shelf 7 extending intothe casing terminating just below the termination of wall 1. A leaf 8has provided at one end a pair of apertured lugs 9 through which extendpins 10 which also pierce the walls 2 at their corners adjacent wall 1and wall 4 so that this leaf is hingedly mounted on the casing. A rib orprojection 11 is provided on the inner face of the leaf 8 above theshelf 7 The wall 1 is provided. with an opening 12 through which thekeeper 13 provided on the leaf 8 may pass through when positioned overthe wall 1 as is indicated in Figure 2. The wall 1 is also provided witha keyhole opening 14. Any form of preferred or conventional lock isdisposed in the casing adjacent wall 5 below the openings 15 providedtherein for the operation of a bolt terminating in an eyelet 16 adaptedto be moved in and out of engagement with the keeper 13. I have notshown the lock because any conventional lock may be used for thispurpose and fastened into the casing and be operable by the keyinsertable through the keyhole 15. The ropes of a mail bag are passedthrough openings 15 of the end 5 over the shelf 7. The leaf 8 is thenmoved down on to wall 1 so that the rib 11 will bite into the ropes andhold them from movinglongitudinally through the lock and thus the mailbag may be eiiiciently looked as will be understood by those familiarwith their structure.

In order that an identification card may be held upon the fastener Iprovide the wall 3 thereof with the side angular flanges 20 and the end4 with the stop 21. It will be readily understood that a card may beslipped in between these flanges and wall 3 having thereon desirableidentifying data.

It is thought that the construction and operation of this fastener willnow be understood without any more detail description thereof. It isdesired, however, to point out that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A fastener of the class described including a casing of a box likestructure having one end provided with openings and the other endprovided with an inwardly extending shelf, and an opening above theshelf, a leaf hinged in said last mentioned 1 opening and provided witha rib adapted to engage ropes or the like passing through the openingsfirst mentioned of oneend of the casing when the leaf is closed down onthe adjacent Wall of the box like structure all in the manner and forthe purpose specified.

2. A fastener of the class described including a casing having a boxlike structure including four Walls and two ends, one end havingopenings therein and the other end provided with an inwardly extendingshelf, and an opening above the shelf, a leaf hinged in the opening toclose thereover and provided with a rib for holding a rope in engagementWith the shelf, and means for holding the hat in a closed position.

In testimony whereof I aihz; my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM L. MURPHY. Witnesses v AGATHA SGHWEBAGH, O. E. BENTNESS.

